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* 1.1ARabia is bounded on the East with the Persian Gulph, on the West with the Red-Sea, on the North with Mesopotamia and Palestina, on the South with the Oce∣an; the Inhabitahts are extreamly addicted to Thest, this Trade being found to be the best
part of their maintenance, the Countrey is divided into three parts, Arabia Deserta, Pe∣•…•…osa, and Felix. * 1.2Arabia Deserta is the place where the people of Israel wandred for forty ••ears under the command of Moses: * 1.3the most eminent City of this Province is Bolsora, hereto by reason that it serveth for a through-fare from Arabia to Aleppo and Damascus, sound a City of great concourse of many Merchants, and which doth principally consist ••re upon the Commodities brought hither from other Countries, as of India, and other parts Arabia, than of any found here to be transported into other Countries, the further Trade treof by reason of my ignorance I omit.
This Country by reason of the thievish lives of the Inhabitants, and the general barrenness at infertility thereof, some Authors have observed in the course of their Trade and Mer∣chdizing, that the sandy Desarts are the Seas of the Arabian Merchants, the wild Arabs the Pirates, and their Camels their Ships, usually carrying 600 pound for an ordinary bur∣the, and so we find them do in the carriage of our Goods and Wares from Scanderone to Al••o, and so back again, a Camel's load being accounted ten Cloths Suffolk, which by Statute w••h 640 l. which with the packing may be 700 l. or else two barrels or Chests of Tin found to incirca 600 l. and so in other commodities.
* 1.4Arabia Petrosa I find not any City of Trading: Ezion Geber on the Coast of the Re••ea, where Solomon's Navy kept station before the setting out and at their return from Oph, was once a famous place, and of great Traffick, though now it lies buried in its own rui••s.
* 1.5Avabia Felix, Merchants should be better welcome, were the Inhabitants so beneficial to ••ei•• Traffick as their Commodities might be made; for it is esteemed the richest and plea∣sant•• part of all Arabia, and indeed of all Asia, abounding with Gold, Pearls, Balsam, Myrrh, Frarincense, and many other precious Drugs.
* 1.6H•…•… are those two notably noted Towns of Medina and Mecha, the one the birth-place, the other he burying place of Mahomet (who in his younger years was a Merchant, and in his elder a cunning Sophister) where Christians are forbidden to enter, lest they should ••ee (as some Authors alledge) the absurdities of the Mahometan Adoration of their great Prophet's Sepulore, whose Body inclosed in an Iron Chest, is said by an Adamant to be drawn up to the roof the Temple where it hangeth; but herein many of them are and have been for a long time ••eceived, for my self and other Merchants that have for some term of time resided in Turk•• and specially in Constantinople, know by experience that the Grand Signior doth yearly send Carpet, or rather Tomb-cloth of green Velvet, to cover the said Sepulchre, the old be∣ing then taken away, and accounted the Fees and vails of their Priests and Clergy-men that atten: thereon, who cut the same into several pieces, and sell it to the Supersticious at extrem rates for precious reliques; the Tomb it self being seated in a Temple built in Mecha, of nogreat magnificence or beauty, save the cost daily bestowed thereupon in Lamps of Silver and Gold, wherein there is Balsam and other such rich Odours, Ointments, and Oils conti∣••ually burned, and is seated on the firm ground, and not in the Air, as above is said, and in∣closod within an Iron-grate, wherein some by favour are permitted to enter, from some of whom I have had this relation, as is by divers Turks that I have known and that have seen it and reported it to be so, and no otherwise: this large circuit of ground hath not afforded me muda matter of Trade worthy observation that hitherto hath come to my hands; the most pertinent and eminent places are Mocha, the Sea-Port of the said Mecha above-named, and Aden both on the Red-Sea; of the Trade whereof a word, so far forth as I have gathered, and then I will conclude.
Arabia.
Deserta.
Bolsora.
Petrosa.
Felix.
Medina Tal∣nabi and Me∣cha.